Multi-string production packer and method of using the same
View Patent ↗A production packer comprising a packer body, a flat plate, a sealing element, production tubing, water overflow tubing, gas vent tubing, pump cable pack-off tubing, and an optional pressure transducer port. The flat plate is welded onto the top of the packer body. The sealing element is bonded to the outside of the packer body. In the preferred embodiment, the packer body is a steel pipe, and the flat plate is made of steel. The packer is placed inside a production casing, and the diameter of the sealing element is greater than the diameter of the production casing. The sealing element is made out of a material that is durable enough to withstand the pressures associated with a production packer, flexible enough to fit inside the production casing, and elastic enough to create a seal between the packer body and the production casing.
1. A production packer comprising a packer body, a flat plate that is immovably attached to the packer body, a sealing element, production tubing, water overflow tubing, gas vent tubing that is used solely for the purpose of venting gas from below the packer to above the packer, and pump cable pack-off tubing, wherein water flows downward through the water overflow tubing.
2. The production packer of claim 1 , wherein the flat plate comprises four pipe connections, wherein one pipe connection is for the production tubing, one pipe connection is for the water overflow tubing, one pipe connection is for the gas venting tubing, one pipe connection is for the pump cable pack-off tubing, and wherein the sealing element is bonded to the outside of the packer body.
3. The production packer of claim 2 , wherein the packer is placed inside a production casing, wherein the production casing has an inner and an outer diameter, wherein the production casing is installed inside a wellbore, wherein the diameter of the packer sealing element is greater than the inner diameter of the production casing prior to installation of the packer inside the production casing, wherein the packer sealing element is comprised of a material that is both compressible and elastic, wherein the packer sealing element compresses to create a seal between the packer and the production casing, wherein the production casing is perforated at intervals corresponding roughly to a set of upper and lower coal seams located in the wellbore, wherein the packer is positioned between the set of upper and lower coal seams, wherein the production casing comprises a casing sump, wherein the casing sump is located at the bottom of the production casing, wherein water enters the production casing through the perforated intervals, wherein there is a surface water discharge line at the top of the wellbore, wherein the production tubing string allows water to be pumped from the casing sump up through the production packer and to the surface water discharge lines, and wherein water from both the upper and lower coal seams is pumped to the surface through the same production tubing.
4. The production packer of claim 3 , wherein the water entering the production casing through the perforated intervals creates a water column associated with the set of upper coal seams and a water column associated with the set of lower coal seams, wherein the water overflow tubing extends upward above the uppermost coal seam, wherein the water overflow tubing extends downward into the lower water column, wherein gravity causes water from the upper water column to travel through the water overflow tubing and down to the casing sump.
5. The production packer of claim 3 , wherein gas enters the production casing through the perforated intervals and creates a gas column associated with the set of upper coal seams and a gas column associated with the set of lower coal seams, wherein the gas vent tubing extends from the lower gas column to the upper gas column, wherein there is a gas sales line at the top of the wellbore, wherein the gas vent tubing allows gas that is desorbed from the lower coal seams below the packer to be vented to the gas sales line.
6. The production packer of claim 3 , wherein gas enters the production casing through the perforated intervals and creates a gas column associated with the set of upper coal seams and a gas column associated with the set of lower coal seams, wherein there is a gas sales line at the top of the wellbore, wherein the gas vent tubing extends from the lower gas column to the gas sales line, and wherein the gas vent tubing allows gas that is desorbed from the lower coal seams below the packer to be vented through the gas sales line.
7. The production packer of claim 3 , wherein there is an electric submersible pump located in the casing sump, wherein a pump cable runs from the surface of the wellbore through the pump cable pack-off tubing and down to the submersible pump, wherein the pack-off tubing is sealed around the cable on top of the packer to prevent any hydraulic communication between the upper and lower coal seams, and wherein the submersible pump pumps water from both the upper and lower coal seams to the surface.
8. The production packer of claim 7 , further comprising a pressure transducer port, wherein a pressure transducer cable runs from the surface of the wellbore through the pressure transducer port and down to a pressure transducer that is located in the vicinity of the submersible pump, wherein the pressure transducer measures the amount of pressure induced by the lower water column, wherein the pressure measurements are conveyed to a pump controller located at the surface of the wellbore via the pressure transducer cable, wherein the pump controller engages and disengages the submersible pump based on preset control parameters.
9. The production packer of claim 3 , wherein the diameter of the production casing is approximately seven inches.
10. The production packer of claim 1 , wherein the sealing element is comprised of a durable, flexible and elastic material.
11. The production packer of claim 1 , wherein the outer diameter of the packer body is approximately five and one-half inches.
12. A method of adjusting the volume of an upper water column, wherein a production packer comprises a packer body, a flat plate that is immovably attached to the packer body, a sealing element, production tubing, water overflow tubing, gas vent tubing, and pump cable pack-off tubing, wherein water flows downward through the water overflow tubing;
wherein the flat plate comprises four pipe connections, wherein one pipe connection is for the production tubing, one pipe connection is for the water overflow tubing, one pipe connection is for the gas venting tubing, and one pipe connection is for the pump cable pack-off tubing, and wherein the sealing element is bonded to the outside of the packer body; and
wherein the packer is placed inside a production casing, wherein the production casing has an inner and an outer diameter, wherein the production casing is installed inside a wellbore, wherein the diameter of the packer sealing element is greater than the inner diameter of the production casing prior to installation of the packer inside the production casing, wherein the packer sealing element is comprised of a material that is both compressible and elastic, wherein the packer sealing element compresses to create a seal between the packer and the production casing, wherein the production casing is perforated at intervals corresponding roughly to a set of upper and lower coal seams located in the wellbore, wherein the packer is positioned between the set of upper and lower coal seams, wherein the production casing comprises a casing sump, wherein the casing sump is located at the bottom of the production casing, wherein water enters the production casing through the perforated intervals, wherein there is a surface water discharge line at the top of the wellbore, wherein the production tubing string allows water to be pumped from the casing sump up through the production packer and to the surface water discharge line, and wherein water from both the upper and lower coal seams is pumped to the surface through the same production tubing:
comprising increasing or decreasing the length of the water overflow tubing to achieve the desired water level.
13. A method of adjusting the volume of an upper water column, wherein a production packer comprises a packer body, a flat plate that is immovably attached to the packer body, a sealing element, production tubing, water overflow tubing, gas vent tubing, and pump cable pack-off tubing, wherein water flows downward through the water overflow tubing;
wherein the flat plate comprises four pipe connections, wherein one pipe connection is for the production tubing, one pipe connection is for the water overflow tubing, one pipe connection is for the gas venting tubing, and one pipe connection is for the pump cable pack-off tubing, and wherein the sealing element is bonded to the outside of the packer body; and
wherein the packer is placed inside a production casing, wherein the production casing has an inner and an outer diameter, wherein the production casing is installed inside a weilbore, wherein the diameter of the packer sealing element is greater than the inner diameter of the production casing prior to installation of the packer inside the production casing, wherein the packer sealing element is comprised of a material that is both compressible and elastic, wherein the packer sealing element compresses to create a seal between the packer and the production casing, wherein the production casing is perforated at intervals corresponding roughly to a set of upper and lower coal seams located in the wellbore, wherein the packer is positioned between the set of upper and lower coal seams, wherein the production casing comprises a casing sump, wherein the casing sump is located at the bottom of the production casing, wherein water enters the production casing through the perforated intervals, wherein there is a surface water discharge line at the top of the wellbore, wherein the production tubing string allows water to be pumped from the casing sump up through the production packer and to the surface water discharge line, and wherein water from both the upper and lower coal seams is pumped to the surface through the same production tubing;
comprising moving the packer up or down the welibore and thereby respositioning the water overflow tubing in relation to the perforated interval that corresponds to the upper water column.